interregnum
Americannoun
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an interval of time between the close of a sovereign's reign and the accession of their normal or legitimate successor.
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any period during which a state has no ruler or only a temporary executive.
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any period of freedom from the usual authority.
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any pause or interruption in continuity.
noun
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an interval between two reigns, governments, incumbencies, etc
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any period in which a state lacks a ruler, government, etc
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a period of absence of some control, authority, etc
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a gap in a continuity
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of interregnum
First recorded in 1570–80; from Latin; originally “the period between the death of the old king and the accession of the new one,” equivalent to inter- preposition and prefix + regnum “office or power of a king, kingship, kingdom”; see origin at inter-, reign
Explanation
Interregnum describes the period between the reigns of two leaders. If you're a rebel leader, you may try to gain power during an interregnum. Pronounce interregnum with the accent on the third syllable: "in-ter-REG-num." It comes from Latin: inter- means "between" and regnum means "kingship, dominion, rule, realm." An interregnum can be marked by no government at all, or it can refer to a different kind of leadership between two similar regimes.
Vocabulary lists containing interregnum
Power Prefix: inter-
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The Renaissance and Early Modern European History - Middle School and High School
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Florida's B.E.S.T. Common Prefixes: inter-
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Their fall ushered in a long period known as the Great Interregnum, in which no Holy Roman emperor existed and Germanic nobles swore oaths of vassalage to rival kings.
From Textbooks • Apr. 19, 2023
This enthralling novel takes its title from the restoration of the monarchy in 1660 and Charles II’s proclamation designed to bring peace after the upheaval of the English Civil War and Interregnum.
From Washington Post • Oct. 6, 2022
Interregnum was the term used in ancient Rome to refer to the moment of legal and political in-betweenness that followed the death of the sovereign and preceded the enthronement of his successor.
From Salon • Oct. 18, 2021
During the Interregnum, Evelyn travelled widely in Europe, returning to England in 1652 considerably better educated in areas such as anatomy.
From Nature • Mar. 13, 2014
Yet, despite this fact, the management of the colonies during the Interregnum was without unity or simplicity.
From British Committees, Commissions, and Councils of Trade and Plantations, 1622-1675 by Andrews, Charles M.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
